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TL;DR
- India emerges as the world’s largest plastic polluter, releasing 9.3 million tonnes annually, accounting for one-fifth of global plastic waste, according to a study published in the journal Nature
- The study reveals that India’s official waste generation rate is likely underestimated, and waste collection coverage is overestimated due to the exclusion of rural areas, open burning of uncollected waste, and waste recycled by the informal sector
- Nigeria and Indonesia rank second and third in plastic emissions with 3.5 Mt and 3.4 Mt respectively, while China, previously identified as the highest polluter, now ranks fourth due to its progress in adopting waste incineration and controlled landfills
- The findings offer a new baseline for countries to assess and address their plastic pollution, potentially informing the Global Plastics Treaty, which aims to create a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024
India has emerged as the world’s largest plastic polluter, emitting a staggering 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic waste annually, which accounts for approximately one-fifth of the global plastic waste, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds, highlights the urgent need for India to address its plastic pollution crisis.
The researchers found that India’s official waste generation rate, estimated at 0.12 kilogrammes per capita per day, is likely an underestimation. They also suggest that the country’s waste collection coverage may be overestimated, as official statistics often exclude rural areas, open burning of uncollected waste, and waste recycled by the informal sector.
Costas Velis, one of the authors of the paper and an academic on Resource Efficiency Systems from the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds, emphasized the challenges India faces, stating, “India has now become the most populous country. We account for open, uncontrolled burning as a core form of plastic pollution, and some previous efforts did not take this into account or have underestimated it. India faces a major challenge concerning this unsustainable, hugely damaging practice.”
The study placed Nigeria and Indonesia in the second and third spots, with 3.5 Mt and 3.4 Mt of plastic emissions, respectively. Interestingly, China, which was previously identified as the highest polluter globally, now ranks fourth, reflecting the country’s progress in adopting waste incineration and controlled landfills.
The researchers quantified emissions for 50,702 municipality-level administrations from five sources: uncollected waste, littering, collection systems, uncontrolled disposal, and rejects from sorting and reprocessing. Their analysis revealed that global plastic waste emissions were at 52.1 Mt per year in 2020, with littering being the largest emission source in the Global North and uncollected waste being the dominant source across the Global South.
The study also found that 69 per cent, or 35.7 Mt per year, of the world’s plastic waste emissions come from 20 countries, including four low-income countries, nine lower-middle-income countries, and seven upper-middle-income countries. While high-income countries have higher plastic waste generation rates, none are ranked in the top 90 polluters due to their 100 per cent collection coverage and controlled disposal.
These findings could play a crucial role in informing the Global Plastics Treaty, which 175 nations agreed to develop by 2024 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, use, and disposal. Velis believes that the study offers a new comprehensive baseline for countries to reflect on the nature and extent of plastic pollution within their boundaries and develop action plans accordingly.
As India grapples with its plastic pollution crisis, it is essential for the government, industries, and citizens to work together to implement effective waste management strategies, promote recycling, and reduce the reliance on single-use plastics. The country’s success in tackling this issue will not only benefit its own environment and public health but also contribute significantly to the global fight against plastic pollution.
